Montecatini Trip - 7 - Carrara

Friday 1st July 2005 - Carrara

Avis protested the lack of ham at breakfast to the young English-speaking waiter, as Arnold's Wallies had eaten it all. He said "Finished" but did produce more. No brown bread, either. We gave the reception a rocket about the food & she said it was too late to complain but I pointed out that we were here until Tuesday. I did not point out that this all goes on the Internet! We drove off along the motorway until the junction before Viareggio, as Avis wanted to see it again. Getting to the Southern end of the prom was not that easy but then, we went all the way along the coast road, slowly (no choice) to Carrara. Nearly all the beach the whole way was cut up into concessions, which we don't think much of. However, the objective was the Carrara Marble, which did not disappoint. Huge quarries & different colours exposed. After having a coffee at a statue shop, we went right up to the village of Colonnata, where there was a memorial to the miners outside the church. The marble statues for sale were cheap but in every sense of the word. They must have a computer-controlled carving machine, as there were rows of identical madonnas etc. They obviously could not manage one Puccini, which might have been a goer. We had our snack in the marble & I drove back, this time using the autostrada all the way, on which we were for only 47 minutes. It had taken two hours to get there. Tolls amounted to E7.30 & the coffees were large & only E1.50 each but not very good. What is it about these people & food.

The one English couple on B & B have found a good, cheaper restaurant in Town. We lounged round the pool & went in. Then, we were talking to an Irish family by the bar. He does business here with the nurseries & said Pistoia supplies the whole of Europe with most going to the UK. Dinner was no better, with wodgy chips & soggy beans, although sweet corn turned up in the salad. For the benefit of the Belgians, I pretended to shoot my steak. Avis did manage to get fruit salad AND ice cream, rather than or. I had what I called crème brulé flavoured custard. We chatted long with Barry & Frances.